The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to begin the 2018 season with a tough matchup on the road against the New Orleans Saints. However, it will be without the services of Bucs rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea due to a calf injury, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune.
Bucs injury report: DT Vita Vea (calf) out, CBs Brent Grimes (hamstring) and Devante Harris (hamstring) doubtful, LT Donovan Smith (knee) questionable.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) September 7, 2018
Vea had been making progress from the strained calf but had yet to return to practice over the last month. The Bucs are hoping that the 12th overall pick in this year's draft can step in to provide some much-needed balance to the defensive line alongside Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. His absence will likely lead the team turning to veteran Beau Allen to take up that starting spot in Week 1.
The Bucs had spent the offseason improving their defensive line that struggled to create any pressure against opposing quarterbacks over the last couple of years. This saw them finish last in the league with 22 total sacks with McCoy being responsible for 6.0. It had led the front office to add more talent on their defensive front that included acquiring former Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul from the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay is hoping that Vea, who had 15.0 sacks in three years at Washington, could help form a daunting duo up the middle for the Buccaneers that could create havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The team will continue to monitor this situation as he works his way back from a nagging injury that may force him to miss the first couple of games of the season.
Follow Us
Subscribe